(Newser)
–
Keith Olbermann isn’t talking to Rachel Maddow, he’s pulling down a fortune at Current TV, and he’s plucked suspended MSNBC anchor David Shuster to be his fill-in host there. Those are just some of the revelations in a characteristically candid interview Olbermann gave the Hollywood Reporter. Some highlights:

On competing with his old MSNBC time slot: “I don’t think my former employers thought this was going to turn out quite this way. … and my understanding is this has left a certain tension over there.”

On Tim Russert: Olbermann says Russert was one of his only allies at the network. “Tim knew how to play them. … Tim, for the noblest of causes, could bullshit very well.”

On losing his Sunday Night Football job: He says he was sacked because he was caught speculating (accurately) that Jeff Zucker would be ousted in the NBC/Comcast merger. “I was a convenient punching bag and everybody would believe anything they said about me.”

The payday: The Reporter says Olbermann's new job pays $10 million a year, a step up from his $7 million MSNBC salary. Current TV disputes the figure, but didn't offer its own.

On Current TV: Olbermann says he’s not worried about going to a smaller network. “I’m better off at some sort of independent place where they not only like what I produce but also trust me to be the one to produce it.”

On Maddow: “There were lots of people who were forced to choose sides. And particularly in Rachel’s case, I didn’t want to add to the pressure on her already. The last thing I need to do is be calling her up and saying, ‘How’s that Michael Steele working out for you?’”